Liverpool news: Arne Slot sack stance as possible ‘fantastic’ boss has Jurgen Klopp approval

Arne Slot’s future is the number one topic of discussion after Liverpool’s woeful season so far with the Premier League champions suffering a dramatic fall from grace

Liverpool are facing a barrage of questions about the future of manager Arne Slot, with speculation rife about his potential sacking following a string of poor results.

However, two Liverpool legends are united in their stance on whether last season’s hero who brought a record-equalling 20th top flight title to Anfield should be shown the exit door. The Reds have tasted defeat in nine of their last 12 matches, including a humiliating 4-1 loss at home to PSV.

This has led to a list of high-profile names being bandied about as possible successors to Slot, one of whom is currently without a club. Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has already given his nod of approval to the rumoured candidate. As Slot’s team prepares to break their losing streak against West Ham on Sunday, here’s all the latest news from Anfield.

Liverpool greats Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to Slot’s future at the club.

Given last season’s Premier League triumph, it’s hardly surprising that they’re advocating for the club to stand by their man.

Both legends witnessed Wednesday’s disappointing defeat to PSV from the front row. Despite the outcome, they were quick to express their confidence that things will turn around under the current boss, who was lauded as a trailblazer just a few months ago, reports the Mirror.

“I think no,” declared McManaman when quizzed about Slot potentially facing the chop. “I think it’s far too early, what he’s achieved and where he is now this year, that’s a good run of fixtures.

“I understand the question completely but with that run of fixtures, Liverpool still fighting in the Champions League, it’s far too early to come up with a question like that. They will have to be knocked out of the Champions League and wallowing at the bottom of the league.

“I think they play Arsenal second week in January, that’s when the question should be asked. Hopefully they’ll have climbed the table. You have to give him time for the signings, who have constantly been injured, they’re ones you’d expect to come in and lift the team.”

McManaman continued to insist it was “far too early” to pose such queries about Slot’s prospects. Yet he did concede that such pressures are merely part of “the world we live in,” with Gerrard nodding in complete agreement.

“That’s the world we live in, that’s football in the modern day. I’ve been in that position myself,” remarked the ex-Rangers and Aston Villa manager, who has long been linked with a potential Liverpool coaching role.

“You understand that if you’re not getting the results, there is going to be serious questions asked, stewards inquiry, that comes with the territory especially at the top end.

“I agree, Macca, from me and you because we lived through it and suffered. I’ve been [on] both sides. It’s going to come.”

Klopp heaps praise on potential Slot successor

In the event of Slot’s departure, Zinedine Zidane emerges as a tantalising replacement. The Frenchman’s impressive track record at Real Madrid makes him one of the most sought-after managers globally, and his availability since 2021 only heightens his allure.

Rumours are rife that Zidane is gearing up to succeed Didier Deschamps, who will conclude his stint as France’s manager post the 2026 World Cup.

Arguably, there’s no hotter free agent at the moment, and Klopp had nothing but admiration for Zidane’s prowess ahead of Liverpool’s face-off with Real in the 2018 Champions League final.

“If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane has not a lot of tactical knowledge and then people think the same about me that would be really funny,” Klopp quipped before the match. “The two managers in the Champions League final have no clue about tactics? What would that say about the game?”.

“For me, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best five players of all time in football. I’m longer in Liverpool than he is at Real Madrid and he can win the Champions League for a third time. That’s never happened before.

“Unfortunately, I have to accept that he is as brilliant as he was as a player. This group of players work like a clock from Switzerland. I saw his team playing a lot of times and it is just fantastic football. It is organised when it needs to be organised and chaos when it needs to be chaos.”